June 16, 2005
06/16 Greece Days Five & Six - Corinth
The last two days have been on the road traveling throughout northern and southern Greece. You really can't describe the beauty of what we've seen. The country is characterized by heaps of rocks, furrowed mountain ranges, a jagged coastline and expansive green fertile areas like the Thessalian plain ... but, there is something else going on here. I think Henry Miller was right. He wrote in "The Colossus of Maroussi:" "marvelous things happen to one in Greece - marvellous good things which can happen to one nowhere else on earth. Somehow, almost as if He were nodding, Greece still remains under the protection of the Creator. Men may go about their puny, ineffectual bedevilment, even in Greece, but God's magic is still at work and, no matter what the race of man may do or try to do, Greece is stilll a sacred precinct - and my belief is it will remain so until the end of time."
I agree with Henry, there is something special about this country. From what we've seen, our St. Paul was a catalyst for its spiritual heritage. It is still amazing to all 39 of us on the tour that Paul was exposed to so much opposition. In the face of so much animosity, we've wondered why Paul would keep going. Where did he find the drive to continue facing the negative reactions of public opinion that was so stacked against him? We see the places where he stood up to defend himself. We've seen what might have been his jail in Philippi. We're rereading "The Book of Acts" so that its history is coming alive. Why was Paul so driven to succeed in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ? I think we might have found the answer today.
We always read 1 Corinthians 13 at weddings. We smile over the couple about to exchange their vows and remind them of the meaning of love. But today we did something different. As we stood in the middle of the public square that once was the thriving city-center of Corinth, we reread the 13th Chapter of 1st Corinthians. It was a moving experience because Paul addressed these words to the people in the church at this city, but may have been revealing more about his own motivations. It's as if the words jumped off the page to reveal Paul's love for God. He was driven out of sheer devotion to a God that loved and saved him. Paul was able to stand against all the abuse because it was God's love for him and his love for God that sustained him. Paul was compelled by love to serve God for the rest of his life.
We didn't have to come all the way to Corinth to realize that. I can be motivated and energized right at home because of the power of God's love for me. But I will never forget the sights and sounds of smells of love that was found in the rascally city of Corinth.
Tomorrow, we leave for a three-night cruise to Patmos, Mykonos, Rhodes and Ephesus. May God touch you with His love.
Posted by roger at June 16, 2005 04:26 PM